These days, mirrorless cameras are the weapon of choice for photographers and filmmakers alike. Indeed, they’ve surpassed DSLRs in popularity, and if you want to learn more about the top mirrorless cameras available right now, you’re in the right place.
DSLR vs mirrorless cameras: What’s the difference and which is better?
DSLR cameras ruled the roost for many years, but mirrorless cameras are en vogue right now. Let’s talk about the differences and which is better.
With so many different models, lens mounts, and sensor sizes to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why our team of camera pros at Pocket-lint put our heads together to create the list of recommendations you see below. We have extensive experience with these cameras, so you can rest assured that our collection only contains models that are worth buying. No matter whether attempting to snap an elusive bird out in the wilderness or shooting a music video for the next big band, the mirrorless world has a camera just for you.
If you still can’t decide, we’ve got a short guide at the bottom with a few things worth considering when picking out a mirrorless camera.
The best mirrorless cameras: Our experts’ favorites
Nikon Z8
1. Best mirrorless camera overall
Professional powerhouse at an accessible price
$3797 $4000 Save $203
The Nikon Z8 is the complete package, offering impressive speed and high resolution for both video and photography via its full-frame, mirrorless sensor.
- Up to 8K60 / 4K120 video recording
- 20fps RAW burst mode
- Internal ProRes options
- Artificial shutter sound is noticeable
- No articulating screen
- Expensive
The Nikon Z8 is a true jack of all trades, and more unusually, it’s a master of all. It basically has the same internals and feature set of Nikon’s pricier flagship, the Z9, but in a more compact and affordable package. Sure, it’s not cheap, but compared to the competition, it offers a lot of value.
Nikon Z8: Brilliant at everything
A mirrorless D850 successor or a baby Z9? Whatever the case may be, it’s an impressive camera.
For photographers, you get wonderfully detailed shots from the 45.7MP full-frame sensor. The Z8’s sensor brings plenty of speed, too. You can shoot up to 30 JPEGs per second, or 20 RAW images. If you drop it down to 11MP, you can shoot at a blistering-fast 120fps.
When it comes to video, the Z8 continues to impress. It’s one of the few cameras on the market that can capture 8K 60fps RAW video, and if you shoot in 4K, you can push it all the way to 120fps. There are all the pro-level features you could need, too, including internal ProRes recording and 12-bit N-RAW.
Sony A7 IV
2. Best mirrorless camera for autofocus
Super-human autofocusing for ultimate sharpness
Another fantastic overall option, the Sony A7 IV sports some of the most advanced autofocusing tech on the market.
- High bitrate/frame rate 4K recording
- Great stabilization
- Fast and accurate AF and real-time tracking
- Pricey
- No ProRes support
- Flip out screen can block some ports
The Sony A7 IV offers a huge range of professional capabilities. And while it’s not cheap, it’s still considerably less expensive than the company’s flagship A1.
Sony A7 IV: Mirrorless magic
We go in-depth with Sony’s much-anticipated A7 IV camera. How does it stack up to the top mirrorless cameras on the market? We find out.
What you get with the A7 IV is 4K video at up to 120fps, support for a huge number of picture profiles for color grading and correction, including a few different HLG profiles. It also features a CFExpress Type A slot for high bitrate recording.
The A7 IV is fast, features powerful real-time tracking and autofocus, and performed with confidence in all of our still and video tests. If you’re looking at getting into full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, we think the fourth-generation ‘standard’ A7 is the sweet spot.
Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX
3. Best value full-frame mirrorless camera
All the best tech for a bargain
$1998 $2200 Save $202
The hype surrounding the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX is earned, especially when you consider its reachable price tag and slew of cutting-edge features like 5.8K video and ProRes codec support.
- Pro-level video capabilities with 5.8K resolution
- Can record directly to external drives
- ProRes RAW support
- Full-frame sensor at a reasonable price
- Not the best for still photography
- Similar to the S5II with only a few extra features, like Hi-Fi codecs
We’ve touted the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX since its release as one of the best cameras for filmmaking, one of the best professional-grade cameras, and one of the best overall cameras on the market. The S5 IIX’s strengths come from its 5.8K30p video capabilities, which are boosted by the ability to record on external hard drives. And you might need a couple of external drives, as they’ll fill up fast when shooting at that high a resolution. Plus, the professional-grade specs are also storage-hungry, such as the ProRes 422 HQ codec.
Panasonic Lumix S5IIX: All black everything
Panasonic’s most popular full-frame camera gets boosted video functionality and a stealthy paint job to match.
To clinch the best-overall accolade, the S5 IIX impressed us with its extensive ports for compatibility and top-tier stabilization. These include USB-C, full-size HDMI, headphone, and microphone sockets. The 24.2MP sensor offers in-body image stabilization, which can be activated for both still photography and video.
And to top it all off, the phase-hybrid autofocus uses 779 points to lock in on subjects faithfully. Thus, though the S5 IIX might be our top choice for budget-friendly filmmaking, it’s still a well-rounded hybrid camera that touts all the best from mirrorless camera technology.
Fujifilm X-H2S
4. Best mirrorless camera for action photography
Fulfill your need for speed
The Fujifilm X-H2S might be a hybrid camera, but it especially excels when it comes to action photography and fast filmmaking, thanks to the super-speedy autofocus, stabilization, and processor.
- Speedy burst shooting
- Excellent 4K 120fps slow motion
- Great selection of compatible lenses
- Pricey for APS-C
- 1080p 240fps videos are poor quality
- Middling IBIS and AF performance
Fujifilm’s X-H2S is all about speed, whether you’re shooting photos or videos. It uses an innovative stacked CMOS sensor to deliver burst shooting at up to 40fps and zippy high frame rate video.
Fujifilm X-H2S: A hybrid speedster
The Fujifilm X-H2S is one of the most interesting, and speediest, hybrid shooters on the market. We’ve been putting it to the test.
Fujifilm has typically favored the photographic side of the market, but when it comes to the X-H2S, video is well-represented. You can even record in 10-bit ProRes codecs internally, something that’s still rare outside of professional cinema equipment.
If you’re into shooting sports or wildlife, you can’t go wrong with the X-H2S. It’s a little pricey for an APS-C body, but for the right person, it should tick all the boxes.
Panasonic Lumix G9ii
5. Best Micro Four Thirds camera
The Micro Four Thirds royalty
$1898 $1900 Save $2
The Panasonic Lumix G9ii brings the brand’s phase detection autofocus to the compact world of Micro Four Thirds, leading to superb results.
- Reliable phase detection autofocus
- Exceptional video specifications
- Best-in-class IBIS
- Bulky for an MFT body
- Small sensor
- No CFexpress slot
With the Lumix G9ii, there’s no compromising on performance. It’s all thanks to the Micro Four Thirds sensor, which helps keep size and weight down for extra portability.
Panasonic Lumix G9ii: The best Micro Four Thirds camera ever made
Panasonic’s phase-detect autofocus system finally makes its way to a Micro Four Thirds body. Here’s what it’s like to use.
This camera can do everything — it shoots burst frames at up to 60fps with autofocus and can boost that to 75 frames in manual mode. It also shoots video at up to 5.3K60 or 4K120 in 10-bit 4:2:2. There’s internal ProRes recording, too.
The best part, though, is that it inherits the S5II’s exceptional autofocus capabilities and combines it with some of the most impressive in-body image stabilization that we’ve ever come across.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
6. Best mirrorless camera for Canon fans
The classic camera with the latest features
$2299 $2499 Save $200
Our favorite camera in the Canon full-frame lineup, the EOS R6 Mark II offers excellent video features as well as speedy burst shooting.
- 4K 60fps video with no crop
- Excellent dual-pixel AF
- 40fps burst shooting
- Not the highest resolution for stills
- IBIS causes edge warping
- A little pricey
Canon has a robust full-frame ecosystem with some of the best-performing lenses around. The company also has a number of excellent bodies to choose from, but we reckon the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is the most compelling of them all.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Jack of all trades
Canon’s second-gen R6 brings with it some welcome improvements, including improved autofocus, increased resolution and no more recording limits.
Whether you’re into video, photography, or a mix of both, this camera can do it all, and do it well. On the photo side, you get lightning-fast burst shooting at up to 40fps with the electronic shutter, or 12fps with the mechanical shutter. While excellent autofocus and IBIS keep images looking tack-sharp.
For video, there’s 4K 60fps recording with no crop (still a rarity), 180fps slow motion at 1080p, and 4:2:2 10-bit color along with CLOG3. It’s perfect for matching with Canon’s cinema line.
The bottom line: What’s the best mirrorless camera?
We think the Nikon Z8 is the best mirrorless camera on the market today. It offers an impressive blend of professional features for both photographers and video makers alike. It’s an expensive camera, but compared to the competition, it offers a lot for the asking price.
Nikon Z8
Editor’s Choice
$3797 $4000 Save $203
The Nikon Z8 certainly won’t be the right choice for everyone, though. If you want a feature-packed full-frame body at a more accessible price, we’d recommend looking at the Panasonic Lumix S5II instead. And if you need something more compact, the Lumix G9II is a lot like the S5II, but it utilizes smaller and lighter lenses.
How we chose these mirrorless cameras
We’ve had hands-on experience and conducted in-depth testing on every model that you see featured on this list. We try to include a wide range of models that includes APS-C, full-frame and Micro Four Thirds options that appeal to a variety of different users.
We factor in photographic performance, video features, reliability, build quality and lens selection. We also consider the value for money and user experience. It’s impossible to include everything, there are so many options on the market today, but we’ve selected models that we think will appeal to the widest range of consumers, hobbyists and professional shooters.
What to think about when choosing a mirrorless camera
The range of mirrorless options spans pretty much the entire camera market at this point. Understandably, it can be hard to narrow down which one is right for you. Here are a few things worth thinking about before you invest.
What will you be using the camera for?
This will be the crux of the decision for most people, as different cameras are geared toward different shooting styles. If you plan to take videos, a heavier camera body might be better for keeping your shots stable. For street photography or holiday snaps, a lightweight, smaller camera will be ideal.
Ultimately, the answer will be in the specs. If you need to shoot 4K videos, then clearly you’ll want a body that supports that. If you’re shooting stills of fast-moving sports, then you will want to consider the burst rate.
Hooking things up
Especially for video, there’s a wide range of ports to address. Would you want to hook up an external monitor? If so, you’ll want a body with an HDMI output. Need good quality audio? Then you’ll be looking at the microphone inputs (not all cameras have them).
A lot of modern camera bodies offer USB charging functionality, which can be incredibly handy when you’re on the go. Where previously you would have needed to carry spare batteries or a cumbersome charging dock, now you can plug into any old power bank and keep your camera topped up.
A quick lesson in lens mounts
First things first: cameras don’t work in a one-size-fits-all kind of way. Brands like to keep their own heritage and, as such, manufacturers tend to have individual lens mounts. The exceptions are Micro Four Thirds, which are supported by Panasonic Lumix, and OM-system models; and the Leica L mount, which will offer S lenses from Panasonic and lenses from Sigma.
Elsewhere, there are a whole host of considerations, each tied to their respective manufacturers: it’s RF mount for Canon’s full-frame models and RF-S for its APS-C models; its E-mount for Sony cameras of all sizes, but the full-frame lenses are called FE models. Meanwhile, most Fujifilm models are APS-C and use X-mount XF lenses.
Finding the focal length equivalent
Each lens will have “mm” marking on it, such as 12-24mm, to convey the angle of view it will deliver. The lower the number, the wider the angle of view, so more will “fit in” to a given scene.
It’s a bit more complex than that, however, as different camera systems have different sensor sizes that give different focal length equivalents, but stick to that rough rule above, and you’ll have an approximate understanding of what you’re getting.
Budgeting
As you likely well know, mirrorless camera pricing ranges anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand. There’s a model for every budget, but it’s important to factor in the cost of lenses. After all, a camera is nothing without some good glass in front of it.
Full-frame bodies tend to be on the pricier side, but the same is true for their lenses. So, if you’re on a tighter budget, it probably makes more sense to go with an APS-C sensor. It’s not uncommon for keen photographers to spend more on a lens than on a body, so be sure to take a look at what’s available before you commit.
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